Kenny Harrison could answer the North Shore question two different ways.

The way that downplays the importance of the game at 7 p.m. tonight in Port Arthur:

"At the end of the day," the Port Arthur Memorial coach said. "It still counts as one district win."

Or the honest way:

"I'd like to say it's not different in any way - all district games are important- but this game has become a pretty heated rivalry," Harrison said.

"Since I've been here, we've gone 2-2 against them and there have been some pretty competitive games.

I think our kids get fired up to play them and their kids get fired up to play us."

And this year is no different.

Memorial (4-2) and North Shore (5-0) are two of three teams still undefeated in District 21-5A. The Mustangs, favorites to win the district title, have won their last two games by a combined total of 110-0 and are coming off a bye week.

"We want to shock the world this week and everybody that's doubting us by coming out with a victory," said Memorial sophomore running back Kameron Martin.

Martin, a Division I prospect, has surged the last three games after a slow start to the season. In that span he has run for 424 yards (141.3 yards per game average) with six touchdowns. Most recently, Martin gained 115 yards on 16 carries (a 7.2 yards per carry average) with two scores in a 52-14 Memorial win against Channelview.

After dropping its season-opener against Central, the Titans have four of their last five games. The offense has scored at least 45 points three times.

"The main thing is to continue to play without turnovers," Harrison said. "We haven't turned the ball over in two games."

Last year's result feeds the rivalry.

In that game, North Shore scored the final 14 points, all in the fourth quarter, to escape with a seven-point win. A 1-yard Mustang touchdown run with 30 seconds left proved to be the game-winner.

"Last year they scheduled us for their homecoming so it would be great to get a win on our homecoming," Martin said.

Although this is only Week 6, expect the outcome of tonight's contest to have far-reaching influence of who wins district.